In April, Quinn Delaney and Wayne Jordan kicked off EJS's first Major Donor campaign with a $100,000 challenge gift to be used as a dollar-for-dollar match for contributions of $10,000 or more. We are also pleased to report that we have received two pledges of $10,000 thus far.

While we have been blessed with several major gifts since our inception, this is our first year organizing a formal major gifts program. Our 2007 goal of raising $200,000 in major gifts will allow us to hire the following two new full-time staff members: a communications director to lead our Race, Media & Popular Culture campaign and an Intent Program attorney to lead the creation of our blueprint to overturn Washington v. Davis (the intent doctrine).

Naturally, contributions of less than $10,000 are not only welcomed, but needed. In order to maintain our current program capacity, we also need to raise $100,000 in general gifts in 2007.

Oftentimes, foundations cannot support the bold actions we take in standing for justice – this is why we depend on you to support much of our advocacy work. Today, we are dependent on foundations for 69 percent of our budget – individual gifts comprise eight percent. With your help, our major donor program will succeed in expanding individual gift revenue to 18 percent of our expanded budget – thereby, reducing our dependence on foundations to 58 percent.

If you would like to include EJS in your giving portfolio, please contact me at mgavaldon@equaljusticesociety.org or call my direct line at 415-288-8704. Our Major Donor campaign has given our President, Eva Paterson, the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a number of our esteemed constituents, and I would be happy to help arrange such an opportunity for you.

Ford Foundation awards EJS two-year $350,000 grant

In March, the Ford Foundation renewed its support to EJS. Under the auspices of Ford's Human Rights unit, we are pleased to partner with them to "promote access to justice and the protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, especially for the most vulnerable individuals and groups in society."